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Security for the common good: building the conditions of peace

Challenges

We are in this world together but the way we are living is not sustainable; it is unfair, unjust and environmentally destructive. Economic inequality, our use of the finite resources that feed our consumption, and our production of waste continues to grow. Our dependence upon fossil fuels that are driving dangerous climate change doesn’t diminish. Our world, as a result, is insecure.
Wealth is concentrated in the hands of a powerful few at the expense of people and planet, and the resulting inequalities fuel conflict.
The interests of those whose power comes from the control of diminishing resources are protected by ever-more costly military and other technology as a mistaken means to building security.
We are called to question the short-termist, market-led approaches that drive resource misuse, inequality, instability and conflict.
We believe that there is a moral imperative to change from a society driven by perceived wants and fears, and by financial profit, to one that recognises that all people have the same rights to security and that we must live in harmony with nature.

h3. An alternative way forward

To build peace our government must address the causes of war as well as promoting non-military responses to conflict.
We envisage and advocate a secure future that will benefit everyone on our planet. This should be based on understanding the real threats, how they can be dealt with, and tackling the causes of conflict and insecurity.

h3. We call on our government to recognise the changes that are needed and to work to create sustainable security for all …

By promoting positive and effective action, nationally and internationally, to achieve the reductions in carbon emissions needed to halt climate change.

By promoting greater equality in this country and internationally, recognising that* inequality and marginalisation* is damaging to society and to our relationship with others on this planet.

By committing to remove all nuclear weapons from this country and work to promote global nuclear disarmament.

By reducing the manufacture and export of armaments and instead take action to promote and invest in the use of those skills to produce socially and environmentally useful products.

By withdrawing from the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), an agreement that would put more power into the hands of major corporations and undermine parliamentary democracy.

This leaflet has been produced by Northern Friends Peace Board, a Quaker committee that works to support ‘the active promotion of peace in all its height and breadth’. We cover the issues addressed here on our website and our Facebook and Twitter feed – see below for information.

Saturday 18 to Sunday 19 —
Skilling up for the new economy —
*A weekend training in Manchester* for Quakers who are already thinking about or working towards creating a new economy that reflects Quaker values and principles.
http://www.quaker.org.uk/events/skilling-up-for-the-new-economy

September 2017 to October 2017

Saturday 30 to Monday 16 —
Edinburgh World Justice Festival —
Theme of two weeks of events "Creating Hope Through People Power" Full programme of events - many with a peace focus - and information - http://www.ewjf.org.uk/

Saturday 28 —
Creating a better world: Some lessons for the next 25 years —
Scientists for Global Responsibility (SGR)'s 25th anniversary conference - London - http://www.sgr.org.uk/events/creating-better-world . -
With the world facing heightened risks - the conference will draw upon some of the latest research to look at what could be achieved in the not-so-distant future.

Sunday 29 —
The Life and Work of abolitionist Benjamin Lay —
Event taking part at Airton Quaker Meeting House, part of the "*Abolishing Slavery - Then and Now*":https://airtonbarn.org.uk/2017/07/18/abolition-an-idea-whose-time-needs-to-come-again/ series of talks, performancres and discussions

Sunday 15 —
Here and Now —
Event taking part at Airton Quaker Meeting House, part of the "*Abolishing Slavery - Then and Now*":https://airtonbarn.org.uk/2017/07/18/abolition-an-idea-whose-time-needs-to-come-again/ series of talks, performancres and discussions

Sunday 1 —
Unfinished Business —
Event taking part at Airton Quaker Meeting House, part of the "*Abolishing Slavery - Then and Now*":https://airtonbarn.org.uk/2017/07/18/abolition-an-idea-whose-time-needs-to-come-again/ series of talks, performancres and discussions

Thursday 5 —
A DIVIDED BRITAIN: WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THE NORDICS? —
12th Huddersfield Quaker Peace Lecture, given by George Lakey. George Lakey - speaks to the polarization now experienced in both Britain and his own country (the USA) and predicts that it will become more extreme as inequality heightens. What he has learned from studying the Nordic countries is that polarization may offer as much opportunity as anxiety. - 19:30–21:00 - Huddersfield Quaker Meeting, Friends Meeting House Church Street Paddock, HD1 4TR - Facebook link https://www.facebook.com/events/1865920143688652

Sunday 22 to Sunday 29 —
One World Week. —
Theme: GOOD NEIGHBOURS: My World Depends on Us. http://www.oneworldweek.org/v2/

September 2017

Sunday 17 —
Meet the Crafts —
Event taking part at Airton Quaker Meeting House, part of the "*Abolishing Slavery - Then and Now*":https://airtonbarn.org.uk/2017/07/18/abolition-an-idea-whose-time-needs-to-come-again/ series of talks, performancres and discussions

Monday 4 to Wednesday 6 —
Health Through Peace Conference —
Tackling public health crises in a changing, unstable world - Medact - University of York - "details":https://www.medact.org/project/forum-2017/?utm_campaign=HTP2017&utm_source=socialmedia&utm_content=sharepost

March 2018

Friday 16 to Sunday 18 —
Building a Diverse and Transformative Movement for Change —
course at Woodbrooke- https://www.woodbrooke.org.uk/item/building-a-diverse-and-transformative-movement-for-change

June 2017

July 2017

Thursday 27 to Monday 31 —
Peace News Summer Camp —
Nr DISS, Norfolk. Peace News Summer Camp. Join people from across the broad spectrum of the British peace movement for five days of exploration, celebration and empowerment. http://peacenewscamp.info/